County to issue limited refunds on impact fees

by Sarah Fay Campbell

Anyone who paid impact fees to Coweta County in October, November or December of 2013 is eligible for a refund of 50 percent of the fee, following a vote Tuesday by the Coweta County Board of Commissioners.

Individuals will have to request the refund.

In December, the commissioners voted to set Coweta's impact fees at zero, for all categories, effective Jan. 1, 2014.

Impact fees have been charged on all new construction, and had to be paid at the time a building permit was issued, with some exceptions. The fees were being set aside to pay for projects in the areas of parks and recreation, fire protection, the Coweta County Sheriff's Office, the jail, and transportation projects. Before last month's change, fees varied based on the type of use and the size of commercial and industrial buildings.

Following the December vote to essentially eliminate impact fees, county staff, as well as the commissioners, have received requests for impact fee refunds.

"We've had a number of people over the past three months, six months, that have come in and gotten permits and paid impact fees," said Commissioner Tim Lassetter. He proposed the 50 percent refund for impact fees paid in the last three months of 2013.

Commissioner Rodney Brooks, a staunch opponent of impact fees, said he was recusing himself from the discussion and vote because he has paid impact fees during that time frame.

He added that he won't be asking for any refund. There are probably people who would have waited until Jan. 1 to build if they had known the impact fee reduction was coming, said Lassetter.

People have until Jan. 31 to request the refund. Request refunds should be made through the Coweta County Building Department. The building department can be reached at 770-254-2660.